Wed, 06/30/2021 - 7:15pm

Isabelle Curtis

The excitement is contagious at the 59th Windjammer Days Festival’s annual lobster-eating contest. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Emcee Jack Herger’s official contest equipment. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Youngest contestant Meredith Amer of Boothbay Harber gets ready. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

The contestants are lined up and ready to go. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Things get messy. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Winner Rikki Brown shows off his $100 prize. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

The excitement is contagious at the 59th Windjammer Days Festival’s annual lobster-eating contest. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Emcee Jack Herger’s official contest equipment. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Youngest contestant Meredith Amer of Boothbay Harber gets ready. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

The contestants are lined up and ready to go. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Things get messy. ISABELLE CURTIS//Boothbay Register

Winner Rikki Brown shows off his $100 prize. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

The Windjammer Days lobster-eating contest on Wednesday, June 30 drew a full set of contestants to compete for bragging rights and a $100 cash prize. The competition was limited to 10 participants due to COVID-19 restrictions but that didn’t dampen the excitement. The event featured commentary by emcee Jack Herger with captain and event co-organizer Rusty Court. Out-of-state competitors got a good ribbing from the locals.

The contest had several false ends as contestants threw up their hands to finish only to realize they had left behind knuckles.

Rikki Brown from Catskills, New York took first place taking only two minutes and eight seconds to finish the tails, claws and knuckles of two lobsters. He was followed by Tal Klein of Birmingham, Michigan, and pirate for the day “Bloody Belle.” Other contestants were Meredith Amer, “Bart,” Carl Johanhesen, Mark Downey, Lorraine Downey, Eric Downey and Melissa Ershine.